Question over Bysiewicz qualifications

Hartford (WTNH) - A widely read blog in the legal profession questions whether Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz is legally qualified to be attorney general.

At her news conference announcement, Wednesday, Bysiewicz said she would stack her legal experience against any other potential candidate.

A story posted on " A Connecticut Law Blog" cites Connecticut statute that says "The Attorney General shall be an elector of this state and an attorney at law of at least ten years' active practice at the bar of this state."

Bysiewicz insisted that her time as a state legislator, and as Secretary of the State, qualifies as being a lawyer in active practice.

"I have been an attorney in private practice, in the private sector, for eight years. But I have been a public sector lawyer for the past 16-years," said Bysiewicz.

Davis: "Is being Secretary of the State and or a state legislator the same as active lawyering in a court room?"
Bysiewicz: "The Secretary of the State runs a large public interest law firm. I supervise lawyers, many lawyers, and legal assistants who help people."
Davis: "But are you a lawyer or are you a client of those lawyers?"
Bysiewicz: "I am absolutely a lawyer."

The president of the Connecticut Bar Association, Francis Brady, told News Channel 8, "I don't know of any legal definition of 'active practice.'"

He referred News Channel 8 to the State of Connecticut Judicial Department web site, where you can check the status of lawyers.

It lists Attorney Susan Bysiewicz's status as 'active.'

But is that the same as being in 'active practice' as required by the statute? Bysiewicz herself said that would have to be settled in court if someone was to question it.

The current attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, would likely have to make a determination on the question.

"The intent of the legislature clearly was that a lawyer have actual experience," Blumenthal said. "As to what the statute requires in its language, we'd have to review it and look to, perhaps, some of the practical implications."

Former Democratic Party Chairman George Jepsen filed the papers to run for Attorney General. He swore to News Channel 8 that he had nothing to do with planting the story.

News Channel 8 also spoke with the attorney that wrote the blog. He also swears that Jepsen had nothing to do with it.